THEPublished TwiceM a Month IL by tbe Communist IT League A of America N (Opposition) T

V ol.III,N o.30 NEW YO RK, N. Y| September 15 1930 ______PRICE 5 CENTS

In Stalin’s Exile RAKOVSKY IN DANGER! Issues in the Elections The silence of the leadership of our Party and the International continues to be Capitalist Parties Put Up Fake Issues to Conceal Jobless Sufferings profound. We w ill continue without cease our appeal to the workers for the Bolshevik Sufficient has occurred in the last few The socalled prohibition issue is the gles to resist the offensive of the capitalist Oppositionists deported by Stalin. weeks to show on what) basis the twin best one that could be chosen—for the class? Give them a prohibition prizeifight capitalist parti es intend to conduct the capitalist class. It conveniently cuts across to distract their minds from woe and stru- Above all, comrade Christian Rakovsky election Campaign: Prohibition—ftfr anil party lines so that neither singly nor to­ gle! must be saved! against! The faithful servant of Tammanj gether can they be made responsible for The dislike and total Incapacity of the The workers must be informed, and to Hail, Governor Roosevelt, hae issued a aythlng. It is an expedient gas gun for capitalist parties to face the real problems those responsible for the Party’s policy, “courageous” statement for the repeal ol shooting clouds around fundamental and the masses are confronted with, are quite we must constantly raise the question: the 18th Amendment. The “wet” Republi­ really burning issues. understandable. Republican or Democrat What are you doing to the Left Opposition cans of New York are warning the Party Is there mass unemployment, misery, —they are the ramparts of the system that in the U..S.S.R.?' Why do you persecute it? high priests that unless they do the same, sta rva tio n , suicide in the country? Elooze produces wars, unemployment, crises, mis­ Justify your repressive measures if you the parched Party sheep w ill flock to the will solve that! Are wages being cut to ery, child labor, exploitation, inequality and can! flowing brooks of the "Democracy”. In the very marrow? Booze will make the opflilession with am evcr-inbreaeing fre­ Illinois, the Democratic senatorial nominee, workers forget that! Is a form of social quency and permanency. Their crimes and festering corruption are the crimes and On Rakovsky J. Hamilton Lewis, has declared the great insurance needed by the workers? No, it’s issue to be bringing the government back beer and light wines they need! Are the corruption of capitalism, with which the (Extract from a Letter) to “the principle of the fathers”, which, workers clubbed during strikes, bludgeoned whole country is reeking like a pestilence. if he refers to the George, Washingtons, at demonstrations of the jobless, evicted For a worker to support them is to kiss . . . Rakovsky is writing an enormous means cheap booze. Michigan has al­ from their homes? Prohibition caused it the chains that enslave him and amount. Whatever reaches us is read by ready defeated two prominent dry Repub­ all! Do the workers want bread? Give with gratitude the blows he receives. all; in this sense Christian Georgevitch is lican Congressmen in the primaries. Ver­ them beer and they won’t need bread! Is doing a great work. His position does not Reformist Aides to Capitalism mont has given an unknown “wet” a nom­ there a bleak winter ahead, a winter of differ one whit from our own (that of Then ,should he support the Socialist ination over a prominent “dry”. The same deepened crisis of horrible suffering, of food Trotsky); like ourselves, he is resisting party? No. It the Republican and Demo­ comedy is being enacted everywhere. riots perhaps and certainly of bitter strug- the Party regime. Here are some extracts cratic parties are the ramparts of capital­ from one of his last cards: ism, the Socialist party is the ditch around “All our warnings have been verified the fortress that traps those who seek to much more rajjidly aind fully than we A Yankee Revolution in the Argentine storm it. The socialist party has removed might have imagined. Right now a re­ every mention of the class struggle from its treat is being beaten, and the positions are M ilitarist "revolutions” in South Amer­ tion” and coolly driven them back to a program, constitution and works. But it being abandoned, evidently by the usual ica are occurring with bewildering fre­ position of quiescence and subjugation as has not left the class struggle; it has only zig-zags. The slogan of ‘generalized col­ quency and abruptness. First Bolivia, then soon as they have seized power. For the become an assistant to capitalism. It is lectivization in three years’ still continues Peru, now Argentina, and tomorrow, per- masses, in a word these “revolutions” Save the party of the petty bourgeoisie. It is only for the purpose of frightening the hap, Brazil. In virtually every one of these no progressive significance, and often a the party of the respectable business men middle peasant and increasing the retail countries, the boiling over of conflicting more reactionary one. who faithfully manage the municipal affairs price by its presssure. The middle peasant elements results from the volcanic heat What is even more disturbing is the of Reading and Milwaukee for the capitalist w ill be the axis around which the turn of generated by the world capitalist crisis. complete absence of the Communist move­ class. It is the devoted workman who 180 degrees in Centrist policy w ill revolve. Even more precisely, the “revolutions” in ment in these affairs. They appear no­ goes about his master’s house, with plaster question mirrtor the unconcealed rivalry where as a political factor. They do not and trowel, begging for permission to coyer “After Centrism, without resistance, between Britain and the United States. In even appear to attempt to turn the guns of up the more unsightly holes in the decay­ ruined the economy of the middle peasant, both these imperialist powers, their an- the masses aginst the m ilitarist puppets ing structure. it w ill again begin to make a fetich of him, archistically organized industries and of the native bourgeoisie and imperialism. Does it offer promises to the workers? with the ritual sacrifices, not on the backs means of distribution are paralyzed, their The truth is: They have been crushed and Certainly! More even than its masters of the bureaucracy—which everybody home markets sluggish and contracted, their rendered impotent by the ravages of Sta­ offer. It offers a MacDonald regime in the w ould have to approve------bu t a t the ex­ financial systems in disorder. Prim arily for linism, which has virtually dissolved the United States, a regime which has so effect­ pense of tihe poor peasants and the prolet­ these two, it has become a matter of econ­ oncq promising Communist movement in ively “solved” unemployment in England ariat” . . . omic existence to fight tooth and nail for the Latin-American countries. that millions are still on a miserable dole; a larger share of the world market, limited it has “solved” the oppression of imperial­ Letter from Russia as it is. This struggle for markets, raw The German Elections ism in India by massacring tbe Indian material, spheres of influence and the like, people. Haven’t Hillqult and Co. endorsed . . . By chance I received some in­ We go to press too soon to report the produces the mfi3t violent eruptions in the British "Labor” government? Aren’t formation on the solitary prison of N. outcome of the elections in Germany, and every corner of the world, of which the they in one and the same "socialist” inter­ One of our comrades confined there pre­ must therefore leave iti to the next issue to recent events in South America are only national? Are they not “comrades” of viously developed the theory of the “fer­ contain a detailed analysis of the results. Characteristic. Zoergiebel, the butcher of Berl'n’s prolet­ ment” that is, that we are ferment of the In this case, however, as in all capitalist ariat, and Eoncour, the agent of the French, next revolutionary "rise, but today, in his The overthrow of the tyrannical but­ (elections, the 'casting of ballots is fair war mongers? Are they not in the party letter, a change is to be felt. Everybody cher of the Peruvian toiling masses, Leguia, from the decisive question. The fate of of the “socialist’ trade union racketeers works to deepen and increase his theoretical the W all Stfeet adjutant who was surround­ Germany and its working class will be who practise for power by beating up and knowledge, they study and strengthen their ed by American financial and naval “ad­ decided in the open field of the class strug­ visors”, marked an offensive of Britain expelling Left wing workers? They are knowledge of foreign languages, with a gle. The problem for the bourgeoisie is the gay deceivers of the working class, marked preference for German. The dis­ against the Yankee dollar—never very pop­ its ability to unload the burden of the typified by Mr. Heywood Broun and Mr. cussions go on without cease. The 'sub­ ular with the Latin American masses— nrifcis upon techpico-lnldusltrialliy weaker which has yet to say its (final word. Norman Thomas, who keep the workers jects: knowledge of the world, space, time, countries and by intensified exploitation of from iftghting their class enemy by telling mechanics, the sorties of the Right wing, W ith almost the precision of a m ilitary the working class, in order to carry out them that their lot can be improved by the "third period”,etc., etc. Nothing more counter-offensive comes the engineered up­ the Young Plan. The answer dependsi voting against capitalist politicians. qan be learned of the essence of the dis­ rising in Argentine with its removal of the largely upon the Communist Party and its cussions, since all abstract considerations notoriously pro-British Irigoyen adminis­ ability to mobilize for struggle the workers Yote Communist are censored, or held back by the censor; tration and the establishment of the pro- still in retreat. The failure of the Com­ (The worker’s vote should go to the even the situation with regard to food is American Uriburiu dictatorship. Both the munist Party can bring the same ruinous worker’s party—the Communist Party. A ll part of the mystery of the solitary prisons. A m e rica n and ‘B ritis h im p e ria lis t p|f6fss consequences to the proletariat as did the our differences with it, our criticisms of its Hunger strikes are frequently carried on. treat the event with a frankness for which failure of the Brandler leadership of the interilal regime and its ruinous policies, The causes are the regime, and apparently, we can only be thankful: the former greets C.P.G. in 1923. On the tem per and mood of does not change the fact that it is the the food; after the first hunger strike, they it with unfeigned glee, the latter with ap­ the proletariat, which w ill ibe partiality only political party of the working class forced the permission to receive twelve prehension. The United States, with its guaged by the elections this week, depends in the field which stands for a revolutionary letters instead of four letters a month. hypocritical “policy” of not recognizirig the question—in a political sense—of whe­ struggle against capitalism and all power The strike was long, there were many ser­ Latin-American governments that have suc­ ther the bourgeoisie will go forward with to the proletariat. The casting of a paper iously ill. The second hunger strike was ceeded to power by “violence”, is quite its "democratic” dictatorship supported by ballot does not and cannot decide the burn­ a protest against the basbonnades (beat­ prepared to make an exception in the Ar­ the servile collaboration of the social dem­ ing problems of the workers. But support ing with sticks). As a result ,the prisoners gentine case. ocrats, or prepare for an open Fascist) for the Communist campaign draws the were refused all communication with the In all these “revolutions", the native dictatorship. Unfortunately, the Communist workers more closely together, and enables outer world. The old social democrcy left bourgeois demagogues have (skilfully util­ Party under the misleadership of its Thael- them to transform the electoral farce into the prisons and places of exile much more ized the dissatisfaction of the masses with manns, Remmeles and Neumanns offer too a genuine fight for the demands of the healthy than the Bolsheviks w ill leave the the economic crisis and tyrannical dictat­ insufficient guarantee or hope of an intelli­ workers—not in futile polling booths, but solitary prisons of Stalinism .... orship. They have used the workers and gently revolutionary leadership of the mass­ in serious class struggle. June, 1930. ■—N.N. peasants for “troops of the popular revolu- es for today and the coming day. Vote Communist! An Opportunist Campaign George Saul Tours for Opposition The Communist Party in the Elections

Two declarations of the Left Oppo­ campaign, however, they have been honored to the “third period”, to the “revolutionary sition. intimately related to each other, more in the breach than in the observance Comrade George J. Saul has begun a upsurge”, to the “crisis worse than 1914”, are being confirmed w ir.h greater rapidity and that with calamitous results. national speaking tour for the Communist to the “possession of the streets” ? They League of America (Opposition) opening than many expected. The first is that Our Proposals have been dissolved into a legally perfect, up in Denver, Colorado, with a number ef- Centrism has no independent or consistent A few months ago, the Left Opposition, irreproachably worded “b ill” to be present­ street meetings. From Denver, he will political line of its own. The second, that through the Militant, proposed a number ed for "enactment” to Congress. proceed to Kansas City, with a possible the stormy ultra-Left zigzag of Centrism of concrete issues as a program of action That is not all. Combined with this mis­ meeting in Sterling en. route. In Kansas is only a prelude to a new rampage in the for the Communist movement. Leading them erable campaign of opportunism, is similar City, two or three meetings are scheduled direction of crass opportunism, The con­ was the need of a campaign for social in­ reformist nonsense, subsidiary in form but for him. One of them is a meeting of the tentions are already being confirmed in all surance that would set a broad class move­ no less harmful. Communist League branch, another is a the important parties of the Comintern, ment going and involve masses in struggle. “The funds necessary for such insur­ p u b lic m eeting in F orum H a ll, 1218 East including the Russian. In the United States, At that time the proposal was not only ance,” writes the Daily Worker, “can be 12th Street, September 16th , 8 p.m., on it is most crudely manifested ifn the present strictly taboo in the columns of the official provided by 1. Stopping armaments and “Boss Persecutions in the South", and a election campaign of the Party. Party press and all Party documents, but other war preparations and assigning the street meeting may also be arranged. St. Conditions for Election Work it was looked at with a glaringly suspicious Louis is also arranging a branch and pub­ Why and under what conditions do Ifutnds h ith e rto spent fo r these purposes eye by the Stalinist mannikins as something lic meeting for comrade Saul in the Public Communists participate in parliamentary to a social insurance fund.” (8-29-1930). akin to if not worse than “social fascism”. Library. From St. Louis, it is expected to activities? Among the many conditions, No “genuine” pacifist could fail to he de­ We never conceived such a campaign lighted with such a proposal, which is also continue the tour through Springfield, Chi. these stand out: To utilize the interest cago, Detroit, Cleveland, Youngstown, Pitts­ aroused among the workers during election in the sense of a vulgar parliamentary advanced in the form of a slogan: “Not a cent for war.” burgh and points in the vicinity. times for revolutionary agitation and or­ comedy—that goes without saying. We urged it upon the Party, which finally ac­ Comrade Saul was one of the active ganization of the workers. To point out Petty Bourgeois Pacifism figures in the Colorado coal strike of a few that the Communists do not seek seats cepted it when word had come fijom Mos­ Not once but a hundred times did Lenin years ago, and recently one of the leaders in order to use the bourgeois state apparat­ cow that even in the “third period” such excoriate the petty bourgeois pacifists in of the textile struggles in the South. He us as an instrument of the workers, but a proposal was not entirely a bad one. the ranks of the socialist movement whb was sentenced to six months on the chain to use it as a forum where the decadent It was from then on that we were present­ advanced these and sim ilar proposals and gang in the Carolinas for his activities. Hiis bourgeois parliamentarism is exposed and ed with an almost incredible performance slogans. His strictures remain just as recent agreement with the standpoint of the the illusions of the workers in it shattered which reaches new depths with the passage correct today, even when they must be di­ Communist League brought about his ex­ To utilize election periods in particular of every day. From yesterday’s hardly con­ rected against the chameleons of the “third pulsion from the official Communist Party. to mobilize the workers against the stifling cealed contempt for “ social fascist insur­ period”. Not so very long ago, the whole On this tour, comrade Saul is speaking on farce of the polling booths and for trans­ ance”, the Party leaders swung around their Party was stirrefl up against Bittelman for “Boss Persecutions in the South”, “Prob­ ferring their demands and attention out­ customary 180 degrees, and turned the issue his petty bourgeois slogan: “No more cruis­ lems of the American Working Class”, and side parliamentary boundaries and into —which can have a serious significance only ers!” Does the new pacifist slogan of tihe “ P rogram o f the Com m unist League” . the open field of struggles, (demonstra­ as a demand for which workers actually armaments and war differ in any essential Further details on the tour w ill be publish­ tions, strikes, etc., etc.) To advocate such fight—into a cheap electoral game. from Bittelman's? It does not. Like its ed in forthcoming issues of the Militant. minimum (immediate) demands as do not To begin with, a “social insurance bill” predecessor, it has no place in a Com­ reform capitalism (that is the job of the was formally drafted by the Party, in the munist movement. social democrats) but as entrain masses best manner of skilled parliamentarians. It may be objected that these are “is­ in struggle outside the ballot box decep­ We are even ready to acknowledge that the olated quotations”. This objection is not tion, and incessantly to combine the min­ bill is perfectly legal and its language ir­ valid. The quotations are only typical of imum and maximum programs of the rev­ reproachable. Too legal and irreproachable, what can be read every day in the Daily in fact. It tells us that “a national pub­ olutionary proletariat, the immediate de­ Worker and the rest of the Party press. THE RESULTS OF THE mands with, the final aim of the seizure of lic (!) emergency now exists in the United The “bill” itself was drafted by the Party power. To point out to the workers that States of America”. A leaflet of the New leadership—evidently with the prhctlsed GERMAN ELECTIONS parliament and elections are a isham and York Party District informs us that the aid of some of the present “leaders” who a deception practised upon them by tl “Communists offer a remedy” (!); and the w ill b * the subject of the next open meeting n o t so long ago studied how to be good bourgeoisie anid their reformist Lieuten­ Daily Worker adds: Society owes these parliamentarians under Victor Berger, Al­ of the N.Y, Branch of the Communist ants, that reforms cannot improve their categories of workers a living.” In fact, the gernon Lee, Louis Waldman, Meyer London League of America (Opposition) wretched lot which is produced by the sys­ only essential difference between the “Com­ and Morris Hillquit. The editorials cited tem as a whole. munist B ill” and the Socialist party’s pan­ are written by no less a figure than C.A. M ax Shachtman In the United States, where so many aceas is that the C.P. demands $25 a week Hathaway, graduate cum laude of the “Len­ w ill be the speaker millions of wbrkers participate in elections, per unemployed worker, to be paid by the in” school, and now member of the almighty Questions and Discussion will follow where parliamentary illusions are deep and government, while the S.P. does not de­ Party secretariat. The turn from ultra- mand so much. A very cheaply purchased The meeting w ill be held in the strong, where reformist quackery has been Leftism is quite official. so prevalent and nefarious, and socialist “radicalism”, indeed! * * * Stuyvesant Casino reformism has assumed (for decades) such How the Opportunists Write of Tlieir Bill This is not the first time this has hap­ 9th St. and 2nd Ave. Koom 3, a crude bourgeois character, the observance This very parliamentary “bill” has be­ pened. After the Fifth Congress of the Thursday, September 25, at 8 p in, sharp of the above-mentioned conditons are im­ come the very acme of the struggle for Comintern, which followed the collapse of All Invited Admission Free peratively needed giurantees for a Com­ social insurance conducted by the Party, the Right wing leadership in Germany (1923) munist movement against a degeneration the “center of the election campaign” as and Czecho-Slovakia, the International into opportunism. In the present elections the Daily Worker says. We refrain from Centrist regime also embarked on a short­ .quoting much from the Daily Worker, but a lived “Leftist ’ zig-zag. It was the period few sentences must be cited here. They of Ruth Fischer and Treint leaderships and Comrade Andres Nin Expelled from Russia are breath-taking. policies, of “playing at soldiers” as it was “A vote for the candidate of the Com­ later termed. But this ultra-Leftist jag Comrade Andres Nin, former member of frontier, without a cent, wthout a document, was only the prelude to the worst period of the Profintern secretariat and leader of the without his family! munist Party fe a vote for the enactment of Spanish Communist movement, was deprived the U nem ploym ent Insurance BH1” (8-29- opportunism in Comintern history: the ad­ 1930). venture with Chiang Kai-Shek, with La- of all work and removed from his .post in He was sti11 held a few days by Stalin's J.928 after his courageous speech at the guards, and his wife, together with two The Party called together a “mass un­ Follette, with Raditch and other “peasant” fourth Congress of the R.I.L.U. children—one 7 years old and the other 2 employment united front” for the purpose leaders, with Messrs. Purcell and Co. The years old—held with him. of discussing . . . “the enactment of the indications are that such a catastrophic Nin had definitely sided with the Left Workers’ Social Insurance Elill as proposed swing is to be repeated now. Opposition: he had excoriated the oppor- Tbe bureaucracy of Stalin knows no by the Communist Party” (9-10-1930). Centrism has no consistent policy of its tunist trade union policy of the Anglo-Rus- lim its. The revolutionary workers must ask “This bill must not only be brought own. I t t3 a parasite which lives on the sian Committee, he had developed the inter- the leaders -of the T.U.U.L. for an explana- to the workers in the shops, trade unions, Xiieces it bites of fro m the L e ft and R ig h t national perspectives of the Opposition, and tion o£ tlle case o£ Nln- for their endorsement, but the Party must alternately, but it always ends by sinking a our point of view on the Chinese question. Upon their return, the American dele- also consider the utilization of the initia­ foot deeper into the swamp of opportunism. urn SiDCe ‘t ! 11’ ^ WaS h6ld a prisoner in salts to the R.I.L.U. congress must be asked tive and referendum laws as a means of As in 1925-1927, i t is c a rry in g th ro u g h a . aPPW' ^ bls Presence irritated the for details on the case of Nin. struggle for this bill.” (8-2-1930). turn to the Right with an accompaniment of Stalinists and they have just accomplished In what way does this destroy the ultra-Left trumpets. their base aims by expelling him under scan. N*n is a tested revolutionist. With him, parliamentary illusions of the workers, or A turn from the prevailing ultra-Leftist dalous conditions. as with our non-Russian comrades, as with direct their attention and efforts to the course, embodied in the spurious philoso­ comrade Santini who is now in Moscow, Sta- extra-parliamentary field? The answer is: phy of the “third period” is essential for Smce hypocrisy and “high politics” are iin and his valet Losovsky, do not dare to In no way! Instead of telling the workers the Party. But Centrism cannot execute a part of such a game, the French and Chin- employ the solitary prison, exile, m- the rifle bluntly and honestly that even their sim­ such a turn without springing back to its ese delegates to the recently concluded fifth squad-they must lim it themselves with ex­ plest and most elementary demands can be old Right wing positions. The vigilance congress were made to propose a resolution pulsions. But these methods dishonor the attained—not by “bills” and ballot boxes— and comradely criticism of the Left Op­ endorsing the expulsion. revolutionary trade unipn movement. but by genuine mass demonstrations and position must assist the Communist workers Comrade Nin was expelled on August The Left wing militants in this country strikes (we do not mean the kind the in the ranks of the Party to make the llZ T l Staam; l UlTTCr ditl0nS' ArreSted by mUSt COnduCt a Persevering struggle against Daily Worker organises at its headline turn from the present line to the positions !,? ° , : U' he Was selzed as belng these methods which not only play into the desks), by arousing the mass organizations of Marxism. —S—n °„ u°“ nter-revolutionary actions” by hands of the Right wing and reaction, but of the workers to fight for these demands, (The next issue of the Militant will virtue of article 58 of the Soviet code, like destroy the prestige and effectiveness of the the Party glues the eyes of its followers to further discuss concrete election problems. qomrade Trotsky, and conducted to the Communist movement. a . . . bill. What has suddenly happened — Ed.)

s crip tio n r a te f^ .O ^ p e T y ^ a r ^ fo r e i6^ ^ 5o° Five c^nt1^ *'^ twice “ 0Pthly by tbe Communist League of America (Opposition) at25 Third Avenue, New York, N. Y. Sub ice Spector Arne Swabeck Entered as so Vend Mas p r, Copy' Bundle rates 3 cents per copy. Editorial Board: Martin Abern, James P. Cannon Max Shachtman, Maur sector, Arne Swabeck. Entered as se-cond class mail matter, November 28 1928 at the Post Office at New York. N. Y. under the act of March 3, 1879 (Total No. 55) Our Reply to the Right Wing ecuted primarily by your a-jup, at that time in control of the Party. It is neces­ sary to know if this is still the official attitude of your group. Else how can you Lovestone's «United Front» Maneuver appeal to unite us into a movement to pre­ sent the point of view of Communism while (At a recent meeting, the national the movement "to present the point of ing such a front—would constitute an un­ expelling us from the Communist Party? committee of .the Communist League of p rin c ip le d b lo c a gainst the Center, i.al., view of Communism, the point of view of 3. But our group is only the American America (Opposition) considered the “open against the Party. It would end in a tihOse who stand by and defend the Soviet section of the international Left Opposition. letter” sent by the Lovestone group to our U n io n ” . miserable fiasco (as did the Lovestone The expulsion of these comrades, and par­ organization and to the official Communist Unity with “ Counter-Revolutionists” ? “united front” in the textile industry), or ticularly of the Russian Bolshevik-Lenini- Party. The letter, calling for a “United as a rallying ground for anti-Party forces. But it is the Lovestone group, together ists, has been of enormously destructive Front”, is published in full in the current with the Stalinist apparatus, which has We are aiming, on the contrary, to restore effect) to the movement, reflected in the issue of Revolutionary Age, organ of the the Party to a Marxist foundation, since itl for years assailed us as “counter-revolu­ American Party as well as elsewhere. Right wing, to which interested readers tionists and the worst enemies of the So­ is our Party from which no clique of bur­ Comrade Trotsky has been Reported to can refer for tihe full text from which quo­ viet Union”, as the “agents of Chamberlain eaucrats can seperate us. Turkey, and thousands of the best Bol­ ta tio ns contained in th e fo llo w in g docu)- A united front of all Communist work­ and Chiang Kai-Shek” . We have not yet sheviks exiled and imprisoned in the U.S.S.R. ment are taken. The letter which follows seen an acknowledgement! that these de­ ers is esential. A determined effort! must Elolshevik fighters have even been assasin- is the reply addressed publicly to the Right clarations were infamous slanders which be made to overcome the crisis now rag­ ated by Stalin. Up to now the Lovestone wing by the national committee of the constituted the regular payment made by ing in the movement!. We have advocated group has maintained a cowardly silence League.) the Lovestone leadership to the Stalim- such a front and we continue to propose it on these crimes. But without! the release * » • Bucharin regime for allowing it to run now. Elut we do not stand for an abstract from prison and exile of the Oppositionists, We have received your letter of July the American Party. One may therefore unity, or bloc, but for one that has a basis the return to the U.S.S.R. of Trotsky, and 26, 1930 appealing for our “cooperation in assume that the Lovestone leaders still re­ in principle. With its present views on their full reinstatement into the Party, no setting up a united revolutionary front” tain these “convictions” concerning us. How essential questions, and its evasion or si­ progress can be made in overcoming the as well as a copy of the resolution on then is it possible to appeal to counter- lence on many others, a bloc with the division and demoralization in the move­ “Trotskyism” adopted .at the Plenum of revolutionists and enemies of the Soviet Lovestone group is out of the question. ment. Does the Lovestone group intend to your group. Both of these documents are Union to “present the point of view of Such a bloc demands certain pre-conditions prefer a "diplomatic” silence on this burn­ of great significance for us. The resolution those who stand by and defend the Soviet which we hereby pose to the Lovestone fac­ ing question to a protest and demand? is the result of our incessant demand that Union”? Or are we to believe that the tio n : the Lovestone group take a definite and Lovestone leaders are not and have not Questions to Lovestone 4. No bloc is conceivable for us with­ formal position on the principle questions been serious in denouncing us as counter- 1. One of the reasons for the crisis, o u t a revolutionary policy in the trade raised by the Left Opposition. This it revolutionists. In that case, it is necessary the division anR demoralMatiion of the unions. On this point! we have had only failed to do ever since its removal from for them to admit plainly that they have movement over which you express so much vague ambiguities from your group. Re­ the leadership of tihe Party, a policy of for years been practising a disgraceful de­ concern, has been the prevention of open cently, your official organ, Revolutionary evasion which evidently could no longer ception upon the workers’ movement. discussion. Meetings have been broken up, Age, has given its hearty endorsement to be maintained even in the ranks of that It is further necessary for us to point raids on private homes conducted, com­ the action of Hals and Co. in Czecho-Slo- group itself. Furthermore, the resolution out that the principal cause of the present rades physically assaulted. These methods vakia in surrendering the independent Red marks a retreat to a certain extent from crisis in the Communist movement, mani­ are still used in the Party against all Op­ unions under their control to the Amster­ the position maintained by the Lovestone fested by division and demoralization is, positions, on the basis of the precedent of dam International. This piece of liquida­ prdup while ft controlled the Partyr-a the theoretical standpoint and practical gangsterism you established in the struggle tion was labelled by you as a step in the position now untenable fo r tihe Lovestone activities of the Lovestone group and its against our group. There can be no issue “unification” of the Czech working class. leadership after the Left Opposition has international allies since 1923. It is im­ from tihe present difficulties, and no gen- Does that signify that in the United States, had the opportunity of breaking through possible to enter a bloc with the Lovestone nine unity, without a condemnation of these where the Left unions are relatively even the conspiracy of lies and misrepresenta­ group while it retains and defends these atrocious methods, which means in the smaller than the reformist trade unions, tions with whch tihe official Commufrii#t' conceptions It is impossible to try to solve first! place an open renunciation of your you favor a similar liquidation of, let us apparatus, Foster and Lovestone, surround­ the crisis and overcome the division in own past crimes in this respect. Otherwise say, the Needle Trades Workers Industrial ed the disputed points. That the resolu- the Communist movement by a “unitelfl no basis can be laid for a free and intelli­ Union into the reformist International La­ tion is permeated with opportunism and front” with the elements that caused gent discussionl of the problems of the dies Garment Workers Union? The "logic” continued falsification is not the subject of the crisis. movem ent. of Hals’ action in Czecho-Slovakia would seem to apply in the American instance this letter, which is- primarily concerned Moreover a united front with the Love­ 2. One of the main reasons for the with the appeal for a united front. stone group— since the official Party bureau- crisis and split is the expulsion of the Left with even greater force—from your point) The United Front crate can still prevent the Party from join- Opposition from the Party. This was ex)- of view. As you are aware, We condemn The tactic of the united front is neither such actions unreservedly. Clarification a maneuver nor a trick for us. We regard on the trade union question is a sine qua it as a serious means of mobilizing the non for any sort of bloc on principle masses of the workers not yet Commun* A n Answer and a Challenge to a Debate grounds. ists for a struggle, on the basis of a min­ & A united front of Communist work­ imum program, against the attacks of cap­ The Communist League of America pate in the proposed symposium. Since ers or groups pre-supposes a certain italism and its agents in the working class. (Opposition) has received a letter from only two groups wotuld be represented, amount of mutual confidence. The whole Such a united front we cannot reject, all Bertram D. Wolfe, head of the Workers your own and ours, we propose instead of a past) course of your goup does not inspire the more so since it is we who have School of the Lovestone group, proposing "symposium” a debate. We have already us with any. Your spokesmen and your constantly urged it on the labor movement! a symposium of the three groups in the selected our spokesman for such a debate. press continue systematically not only to in general and its revolutionary section in movement, the Party, the Lovestone group, In addition, we have chosen a committee "interpret” our position, but to falsify it particular. and ourselves. In reply, the following let­ of two to meet with a similar committee deliberately. The resolution on Trotskyism ter was sent! to Wolfe. But” a united front or bloc with the representing your group, to decide on the of your Plenum is a typical instance. We * * * Lovestone group is noti the same to us title of the debate, the time, the place, the find there a repetition of the hodge-podge as a united front with a trade union or In yo u r le tte r o f A u g u st 14, 1936, you chairman, the auspices and all other details. of known falsehoods, half-truths, conscious­ other labor organizations containing work­ declare: As soon as you shall have done the ly forged quotations that were pressed into ers of varying shades of opinion without “The New Workers School therefore same, we are ready to meet together and service against the Left Opposition since a definite political program and theoretical invites the Communist Party of the U.S.A., work out all the necessary arrangements. tihe opening of the campaign against it in conception. Precisely because the Love­ the Communist League of America, and the Communist League of America (Opposition) 1923. We find there a cheap fa lsifica tio n , stone group calls itself Communist, the Communist Party (Majority Group) to send unworthy of the dignity of a Communist, question of a bloc with it must be exam­ one representative each to present their of our position or t.h( dange • c ’ Thermid ined mosti closely and pre-conditions of a respective viewpoints at a symposium dis­ Socialist Indignation orian elements in the Soviet Union. Such much higher order must be required. Be­ cussion under a chairman selected by the methods are intolerable, even if they are fore establishing these pre-conditions, a few During the sessions of the Second In­ characteristic of the whole struggle preliminary observations must be made. Civil Liberties Union where they will be ternational at Zurich the Swiss government against a socalled Trotskyism. We demand able freely to voice their opinions on the refused permission to enter its borders to The appeal reads: "The revolutionary an end of these falsifications and misrep­ present crisis in the Communist movement the inoffensive Pietro Nenni, of the Ital­ movement in this country finds itself weak, resentations of our viewpoint. demoralized and divided . . . the capitalists and the respective meritts of the three ian Socialist Party. This was the occasion and their agents are exploiting this divi­ groups proposals fo r rem edying the situ« for great indignation among the leaders of Our reply is dictated solely by our sion . . . at no time would refusal to ation. the socialist international who are accus­ insistence upon the maintenance of a prin­ to cooperate in uniting the revolutionary Such an invitation can only be welcomed tomed to much more deference from bour­ cipled point of view in the Communist forces be more criminal.” by us, particularly since, from the very geois governments. With a|n academic movement. We are little concerned with the noises emanating from the empty bar­ But it is precisely the Lovestone group beginning of our struggle and expulsion solemn pen, they addressed a protest against rels in charge of the official Partly today, M>hich is c h ie fly responsible fo r th is division, from the Communist Party, we have insis­ the denial of “hospitality” by the Swiss gov­ to the effect th a t. the “Lovestoneities and for its leadership initiated the campaign tently proposed a public debate before the ernment to a proscribed politician., Trotskyists are now merged” to fight t)he of expulsions of socalled “Trotskyists” ; i'J Communist and Left wing workers, of the Now we know the social democratic con­ Party. The avowal by the Lovestone group is precisely this leadeiship which by its groups. We issued a public challenge, as ception of democratic “hospitality” : It con­ itself that its differences with the Centrists expulsion and assaults upon our group, its tvou w ill remember, at the time Bertram D. sists of patronage by the bourgeois govern­ are of a minor character compared with “refusal to cooperate in uniting the revolu­ ments to social democratic leaders. But it Wolfe was lecturing against us immediately its differences with the Left Opposition tionary forces” rendered itself criminally after our expulsion. At that time, the is never to be extended to proscribed rev­ which are of a principle charater. speaks responsible. It was this leadership that group you represent) was in control of the olutionists who ifight implacably against the for itself and shows that in its whole phil­ failed "to consider the broad interests of Party and deliberately prevented such a capitalist order. Even when the social osophy the Right wing stands immeasur­ the revolutionary and labor movement” by discussion and debate not only by expelling democrats themselves holjd the reins of ably closer to Centrism than does the Left expelling our comrades, not only from the us from the Party’s ranks, but by resorting bourgeois government, they apply this hos­ wing. This clarification of the principle Party but from every auxiliary organization to the most disgraceful methods of slander pitality exclusively to the bourgeoisie and position has a great value. under its control—including trade unions. falsehoods and even physical violence. its servitors. This rule was not trans­ The failure to acknowledge honestly and Nor is our reply dictated by any desire After your own expulsion from the Party, gressed by the MacDonalds and Muellers in openly the source and ' responsibility for for unity as such- and on any basis. Our we again proposed on a number of occasions excluding from this democratic "hospital­ the movement’s division and demoralization aim is the re-conquest and unification of that you agree to debate our respective ity” the Communist Leon Trotsky. But In the past and present, makes any im­ the revolutionary movement on the basis viewpoints. Up to now this was refused. when the Swiss government failed to main­ provement in the future impossible. One of Mhrxism and the living experiences of Such a debate, however, remains as neces­ tain the laws regulating relations between cannot wash one’s hands of the past by a Communism in the last two decades. the bourgeoisie and their socialist footmen, dishonestly naive silence. sary now as it was in the past. the latter protested. Their sorrowful and National Committee The appeal proposes the setting up of a It is quite clear that the official Com­ resigned indignation is comprehensible. Communist League of America (Opposition) joint committee of the three groups in munist Party w ill not consent to partici- STALIN A S A THEORETICIAN ed towards protecting the “powerful” pea­ The Peasant’s Balance Sheet of By L. D. T R O T S K Y sant and fighting against the “shiftless” poor peasant. In this way, the passive ba­ the Democratic and Socialist erated the peasant from the payment of a and Communist are one and the same Party, lance was especially onerous upon the low­ sum amounting to from five to six hundred Revolutions In F eb ru a ry 1927, .this question was er sections of the peasantry m the village. m illio n rubles (about $275,000,000— E d .). T his raised by me at the Plenum of the Central “ . . . the appearance of com­ Nevertheless, where did Stalin get his is a clear and irrefutable gain for the pea­ Committee in the following manner: rade Stalin at the conference of contrasting of the February and October santry through the October—and not the The liquidation of the landowners the Marxist agronomists—was ep­ revolutions, the reader w ill ask. It is a February—revolution. opened up large credits for us with the ochal In the history of the Com­ legitimate question. The contrast I made But alongside of this tremendous plus, peasants, political as well as economic. munist Acadamey. As a conse­ between the agrarian-democratic and the the peasant distinctly discerns the minus But these credits are not permanent and quence of what Stalin said, we had industrial-socialist revolutions, Stalin, who which this same October revolution has are not inexhaustible. The question is de­ to review all our plans and revise is absolutely incapable of theoretical, that brought him. This minus consists of the cided by the correlation of prices. Only them in the direction of what Sta­ is, of abstract thought, vaguely understood excessive rise in prices of industrial pro­ the acceleration of industrialization on the lin said. The appearance of -.com­ in his own fashion: He simply decided tha( ducts as compared with those prevailing one hand, and the collectivization of pea­ rade Stalin gave a tremendous the democratic-revolution—means (he Feb­ before the war. It is understood that if in sant economy on the other, can produce a impetus to our work.” ruary revolution. Here we must pause, be­ Russia capitalism had maintained itself the more favorable correlation of prices for the — (Pokrovsky, at the 16th Congress) cause Stalin and his colleagues’ old, tra­ price scissors would undoubtedly have ex­ village. Should the contrary be the case, In his programmatic report to the con­ ditional failure to understand the mutual isted—this is an international phenomenon. the advantages of the agrarian revolution ference of the Marxist agronomists (Decem­ relations between the democratic and so­ But in the first place, the peasant does not w ill be entirely concentrated in the hands ber 27, 1929.), S ta lin spoke a t le n g th about cialist revolutions, which lies at the basis know this. And in the second, nowhere of the Kulak, and the scissors w ill hurt the “Trotsky-Zinoviev Opposition” consid­ of their whole struggle against the theory did this scissors spread to the extent that the peasant poor most painfully. The dif­ ering “that the October revolution, as a mat­ of the permanent revolution, has already it did in the Soviet Union. The great ferentiation in the middle peasantry will ter of fact, did not give anything to the succeeded in doing great damage, partic­ losses of the peasantry due to prices are of be accelerated. There can be but one re­ peasantry”. It is probable that even to the ularly in China and India, and remains a a temporary nature, reflecting the period of sult. The crumbling of the dictatorship of respectful auditors, this invention seemed source of fatal errors to this day. The ‘“primitive accumulation” of state indus­ the proletariat. "This year,” I said, “only too crude. For the sake of clarity, however, February 1917 revolution was greeted by try. It is as though the proletarian state eight billion rubles worth of commodities we should quote these words more fully: “I Stalin essentially as a Left democrat, and borrows from the peasantry in order to (in retail prices) w ill be released for the have in mind,” said Stalin, “the theory not as a revolutionary proletarian interna- repay him a hundrecl-fold later on. domestic market . . . the village w ill pay that the October revolution gave the pea- tiinalist. He showed this vividly by his for its smaller half of the commodities seantry less (?) than the February revolu­ But all this relates to the sphere of whole conduct up to the time Lenin arrived. about four billion rubles. Let us accept the tion, that the October revolution, as a mat­ theoretifcal considerations and historical The February revolution to Stalin was and, retail industrial index as twice the pre­ ter of fact, , gave nothing to the peasantry.” predictions. The thoughts of the peasant, as we see, s till rem ains a "d e m o cra tic” war prices figure, as Mikoyan has reported The invention of this “theory” is attributed however, are empirical and based on facts revolution par excellence. He stood for the . . . .The balance (of the peasant): ‘The by Stalin to one of the Soviet statistical as they appear at the moment. “The Octo­ support of the first provisional government agrarian-democratic revolution brought me economists, Groman, a known former ber revolution liberated me from the pay­ which was headed by the national liberal aside from everything else, five hundred Menshevik, after which he adds: “But this ment of half a billion rubles in land rents,” landowner, Prince Lvov, had as its war million rubles a year (the liquidation of theory was seized by the Trotsky-Zinoviev reflects the peasant. “I am thankful to the minister the national conservative manu­ rents and the lowering of taxes). The so­ Opposition and utilized against the Party.” Bolsheviks. But state industry takes away facturer, Gutchkov, and the liberal, M iliu­ cialist revolution has more than covered Groman’s theory regarding the February from me much more than the capitalists kov, as minister of foreign affairs. Form­ this profit by a two billion ruble deficit. and October revolutions is quite unknown took. Here is where tihere is something ulating the necessity of supporting the It is clear that the balance is reduced to a to ius. But Groman is of no account here wrong with the Communists.” In other bourgeois landowning provisional govern­ deficit of one and a half billion.” altogether. He is dragged in merely to words, the peasant draws the balance sheet ment, at a Party conference, March 29, cover up the traces. of the October revolution through combin­ Nobody obected by as much as a word 1917, S ta lin declared: “ The power has been In what way could the February revo­ ing its two fundamental stages: the agrar­ at this session, but Yakovlev, the present divided between two organs, not one of lution give the peasantry more than the ian-democratic (“Bolshevik”) and the in­ People’s Commissar of Agriculture, though which has the complete mastery. The roles October? What did the Februaary revolution dustrial-socialist ("Communist”). Accord­ at that time only a clerk for special statisti­ have been divided. The Soviet has actually give the peasant in general, with the ex­ ing to the first, a distinct and incontestable cal assignments, was given the job of up­ taken the initiative in revolutionary trans­ ception of the superficial and therefore ab­ plus; according to the second, so far still setting my calculations at all costs. Yak­ formations; the Soviet—is the revolutionary solutely uncertain liquidation of the mon­ a distinct minus, and to date a minus con­ ovlev did all he could. With all the legiti­ leader of the rebellious people, the organ archy? The bureaucratic apparatus remain­ siderably greater than the plus. The pas­ mate and illegitimate corrections and qual­ which builds up the provisional govern­ ed what it was. The land was not given sive balance of the October revolution, ifications, Yakovelev was compelled! the fol­ ment. The provisional government has ac­ to the peasant by the February revolution. which is the basid of all the misunderstand­ lowing day to admit that) the balance-sheet tually taken the role of the consolidator of But it did give him a continuation of the ings between the peasant and the Soviet of the October revolution for the village is, the conquests of the revolutionary people war and the certainty of a continued growth power, is in turn most intimately bound up on the whole, still reduced to a minus. Let . . . Insofar as the provisional government of inflation. Perhaps Stalin knows of some with the isolated position of the Soviet us once more produce an actual quotation: consolidates the advances of the revolution Union in world economy. other gifts of the February revolution to "... The gain from a reduction of —to that extent we should support it.” the peasant? To us, they are unknown. The Almost three years after the old dis­ direct taxes compared with the pre-war The “February” bourgeois, landowning reason why the February revolution had to putes, Stalin, to his misfortune, returns to days is equal to ap p ro xim a tely 630,000,000 and thoroughly counter-revolutionary gov­ give way to the October is because it com­ the question. Because he is fated to repeat rubles . . . In the last year the peasantry ernment was for Stalin not a class enemy pletely deceived the peasant. what others have left behind them, and at lost! around a billion rubles as a conse­ but a collaborator with whom a division of The alleged theory of the Opposition the same time to be anxious about his own quence of its purchase of manufactured labor had to be established. The^ workers on the advantages of the February revolu­ “independence,” he is compelled to look commodities not according to the index of and peasants would make the “conquests”, tion over the October is connected by Stalin back apprehensively at the yesterday of the peasant income but according to the the bourgeoisie would “consolidate” them. with the theory “regarding the socalled the “Trotskyist Opposition” and . . . cover retail index of these commodities. The un­ All of them together would make up the pcissors”. By this he completely betrays up the traces. At the time the “scissors” favorable balance is equal to about 400,- “democratic revolution”. The formula of the sources and aims of his chicanery. Sta­ between the city and the village was first 000,000 rubles.” the Mensheviks, was at the same time also lin polemicizes, as I w ill soon show, against spoken of, Stalin completely failed to un­ It is clear that Yakovlev's calculations the formula of Stalin. All this was spoken me. Only for the convenience of his op­ derstand it for five years (1923-28), he essentially confirmed my opinion: The of by Stalin a month after the February erations, for camouflaging his cruder dis­ saw the danger in industry going too far peasant realized a big profit through the revolution when the character of the pro­ tortions, he hides behind Groman and the ahead instead of lagging behind; in order democratic revolution made by tihe Bolshe­ visional government should have been anonymous “Trotsky-Zinoviev Opposition” to cover it up somehow, he mumbles some­ viks but so far he suffers a loss which far clear even to a blind man, no longer on the in general. thing incoherent in his report about “bour­ exceeds the profit. I estimated the passive basis of Marxist foresight but on the basis The real essence of the question lies geois prejudices (!!!) regarding the socall- balance at a billion and a half. Yakovlev of political experience. in the following. At the 12t)h Congress of ed scissors”. Why is this a prejudice?' —at less than a half a billion. I still con­ As the whole further course of events the Party (in the spring of 1923) I demon­ Wherein is it bourgeois? But Stalin is sider that) my figure, which made hot pre­ demonstrated, Lenin in 1917 did not really strated for the first time the threatening u'hder no obligation to answer these ques­ tension to precision, was closer to reality convince Stalin but elbowed him aside. gap between/ industrial and agricultural tions, for there is nobody who would dare than Yakovlev’s. The difference between The whole future struggle of Stalin against prices. In my report, this phenomenon ask them. the two figures is in itself very considerable the'permanent revolution was constructed was for the first time called the “price If the February revolution had given But it does not) change my basic conclusion. upon the mechanical separation of d;he scissors". I warned that the continual land to the peasantry, the October revo­ The acuteness of the grain collecting diffi­ democratic revolution and socialist con­ lagging of industry would spread apart lution with its price scissors could not have culties was a confirmation of my calcula­ struction. Stalin has not yet understood this scissors and that they might sever maintained itself for two years. To put tions as the more disquieting ones. It is that the October revolution was first a the threads connecting the proletariat and it more correctly: the October revolution really absurd to think that the grain strike the peasantry. democratic revolution, and that only be­ could not have taken place if the February of the upper layers of the village was cause of this was it able to realize the revlolultion hg/i been capable of Solving caused by purely political motives, that is, In F e b ru a ry 1927, a t the Plenum o f the dictatorship of the proletariat. The balance the basic, agrarian-democratic problems by by the hostility of the Kulak towards the Central Committee, while considering the between the democratic and socialist cqn- liquidating private ownership of land. Soviet power. The Kulak is incapable of question of the policy on prices, I attempt­ quests of the October revolution which I ed for the one thousand and first time to such “idealism”. If he did not furnish the We indirectly recalled above that in the drew was simply adapted by Stalin to his prove that general phrases like “the fac^ grain for sale, it was because the exchange first years after the October the peasant own conception. After this, he puts the to the village” merely avoided the essence became disadvantageous as a result of the obstinately endeavored to contrast the Com­ question: “Is it true that the peasants of the matter, and that from the standpoint munist to the Bolsheviks. The latter he price scissors. That) is why the Kulak did not get anything out of the October of the “Smytchka” (alliance) w|th the approved of—precisely because they made succeeded in bringing into the orbit of his revolution?” And after saying that “thanks peasant, the problem can be solved funda­ the land revolution with a determination influence the middle peasant as well. to the October rtevolutlon the peasants mentally by correlating the prices of agri­ never before known. Hut the same peasant These calculations have a rough, so to were liberated from the oppression of the cultural and industrial products. The was dissatisfied with the Communists, who speak inclusive, character. The component landowners” (this was never heard of be­ tlrouble with the peasant is that it is diffi­ having taken into their own hands the fac­ parts of the balance sheet can and should fore, you see!) Stalin concludes that: “How c u lt fo r h im to see fa r ahead. B u t he tories and mills, supplied commodities at be separated in relation to the three basic can it be said after this that the October sees very well what is under his feet, he high prices. In other words, the peasant sections of the peasantry; the Kulaks, the revolution did not give anything to the distinctly remembers the yesterdays, and very resolutely approved of the agrarian middle peasants and the poor peasants. peasants?” he can draw the balance under his exchange revolution of the Bolsheviks but manifested However, in that period—the beginning of How can it be said after this—we ask— of products with the city, which, at any alarm, doubt, and sometimes even open 1927—the official statistics, inspired by that this “theoretician” has even a grain given moment, is the balance-sheet of the hostility towards the first steps of the so­ Yakovlev, ignored or deliberately minimized of theoretical conscience? revolution to him. cialist revolution. Very soon, however, the the differentiation in the village, and the The expropriation of the landowners, peasant had to understand that Bolshevik policy of Stalin-Rykov-Bucharin was direct­ ( To Be Continued ) NOTES OF A JOURNALIST By ALFA We do not know who fell into this fit words appear on the same day in the Minsk looks like a stagnant • pool. And it also looks as though someone had been splash­ of babbling: Blucher, or the editor of his Rabotchi? Two or N ot Even O ne? speech, or botih of them. But it is clear that We know well enough how all the in­ ing around in that pool. (Blucher’s Enigmatic Speech) somebody here fell into a fit of babbling formation about the Congress is edited. And finally there is a third question: One of the first sessions of the Six­ exceeding the most exceptional norms of Not a single line leaves the boundaries of Why did the “ Trotskyistb” have to flee teenth Party Congress was greeted by the verisimilitude. That is why Pravda ref used the Congress without a visa from the Press to the camp of the Chinese counter-revolu­ to print these words. It was decided there, commander of the Far Eastern army, Blu- Commission. This means that tihe inform­ tion? At its head stands Chang Kai-Shek. and not without cause, that this is too cher. This fact in itself h-s no political ation about the Trotskyist-deserters could He was never our ally. He was the ally of significance and would hardly deserve men­ stupid. But at the same time the Press never have been invented in Minsk. It had Stalin. He came to Stalin for negotiations, Commission of the Congress was reluctant tion. Neither has the fact a Party signifi­ to be sent from Moscow with the seal of the A week prior tio the bloody coup dfEtat of to throw them out): maybe somebody w ill cance: If, as a soldier, Blucher is far Congress Press Commisksion. But then, Chiang K a i Shek in A p r il 1927, S ta lin in find some use for them. And really—such inferior to Budenny for instance, then in once more, why were these lines omitted the Hall of the Columns vouched for the an alluring morsel: On the one hand, not a Party sense he is very little superior to from Pravda? That is the first question. loyalty of Chiang Kai-Shek. Chiang Kai- a single deserter, which is such an excel­ him. Besides Blucher’s speech of greetings There Is also a second question. “Two Shek’s party belonged to the Comintern lent testimonial to the army. On the other was edited beforehand in tihe office of qualified recruits went over to the enemy,” with a consultative vote. The Opposition hand, fully two deserters, and both of them Voroschilov and therefore very badly edit­ we are told by Blucher or by somebody fought against this intransigeantly. Stalin “Trotskyists” ; and this is still better, for ed. But the spirit of the flunkey who falls supplementing him. “Both of them turned and Rykov exchanged photographs with it reveals the direct connection between the in line at command was consistent to the out to be Trotskyists.” These words are Chiang K ai-S hek in A p ril 1927, S ta lin in Opposition and Chiang Kai-Shek. A pity to end. There were the enraptured acclaim printed in the Minsk journal in bold face ceived a protrait of Chiang Kai-Shek from throw it out: Perhaps it w ill come in handy of Stalin and the ardent greetings to Voro­ type. Naturally! But here is what is the office of the Comintern with the request in M insk. schilov, and several jabs aimed at the Right incomprehensible. Between the Fifteenth that he give his own portrait to Chiang wing before whom Blucher stood at atten­ Kai-)Shek in exchange. Trotsky returned and the Sixteenth Congresses, according In conclusion, there still remains to tion only the day before. Everything is in to the words of Blucher, the army was com­ the portrait and refused to give his own. take a look at the composition of the Press order. There is also an interesting ad­ Stalin taught that Chiang Kai-Shek’s Kuo pletely purged of tihe remnants of Trotsky­ Commission. It includes the former Social mission: “In the period between the Fif­ Min Tang is a substitute for Soviets. The ism. Why wasn’t it purged of these two Revolutionists, Berdnikov, who is prepared teenth and Sixteenth Congresses, our Party Opposition revealed the alliance between also? Evidently they were not known until for any service; Stalin’s former secretary, and Communist Youth organization in the the moment of tiheir flight. How did Blu- Stalin and Chiang Kai-Shek as a betrayal Nazaretian, who has quite a distinct and army carried on a successful struggle cher find out that they were "Trotskyists”, of the revolution. What grounds, then, well-earned reputation; the former Men­ against counter-revolutionary Trotskyism.” after they had fled? “Both of them turned could the “Trotskyists” have had for fleeing shevik, Popov, who supplements Berdnikov; The Fifteenth Congress, as was said in its to the camp of Chiang Kai-Shek? And out (?) to be Trotskyists.” What does he the chief cook of the Bureau of Party His­ day, drew the final balance under the would it not be better for you, my good mean “turned out”? How sftid on what tory, Saviliev;and Stalin’s former secretary, “struggle agdinst Trotskyism” and liquid­ point? The water is dark, so dark that it sirs, to remain silent about this? Tovstukha. This ought to be enough for ated it completely. Now we hear from anybody. Blucher that “a successful struggle against Trotskyism” was carried on in the army for The Sermon on Cockroaches the last two and a half years, between the A Reply To Comrade Weisbord Fifteenth and Sixteenth Congresses. We In his concluding remarks, Stalin must assume that at the Seventeenth Con­ The speech of comrade Weisbord at the rade who has occupied prominent posts in spoke about how Rykov, Bucharin and Tom- gress we w ill find out not a little of instruc­ plenum of the Lovestone faction is signifi­ the work of American Communism and is sky becames frightened as soon as “a cock­ tive value concerning the further course cant as an example of a strong trend in the not in the same position as a new-comer or roach stirred somewhere, before it even of this struggle which is no sooner ended Communist movement to consider again the rank and file worker in the movement, all craw led o u t o f its hole” . . . .The speech, than it starts anew. If we live—we shall fundamental principle questions in dispute, unclarity and confusion must be energet­ evidently referred to the dissatifled Kulaks and to draw closer to the Marxist standpoint hear about it. ically opposed, and middle peasants. Further on, however, of the Left Opposition. .The recent adher­ But we have paused at Blucher’s They exist in Weisbord’s views on the the above-mentioned cockroach turns out ence to our group of some of the best speech not beacuse of this admission, nor problems of the Indian and Chinese revolu­ to be “feeble' and moribund”. This compli­ militants in the official Party, the winning because of its general tone, which can be tions and the relations of the various groups cates matters somewhat. It may be that of a section of the youth comrades who for­ expressed in three words: At your service! a feeble cockroach can stir, but so far as merly followed the Lovestone group, and the in the movement. What comrade Weisbord In this speech, or at any rate in the reports a moribund cockroach is concerned—we present attitude of comrade Weisbord, for. entirely fails to see in connection with the of it, there is one point which Is of serious would say frankly that we have our doubts. years a supporter of the Lovestone faction, guerilla warfare in China is the character significance—not as a characterization of_ —these are incontestable facts which demon­ of the period. It is not a question of “right” We are quite in accord with the moral that Blucher but as a characterization of what strate that the Left Opposition in the United or “wrong” in the Chinese guerilla warfare, even live cockroaches should not be feared. fs now being done in the Party and what Sates continues to be the rallying banner but of what period we are experiencing in But on the other hand we assume that is what is now being done to the Party. for ever-increasing numbers of revolution­ China. Neither Stalinism nor the Lovestones under no circumstances should a cockroach According to the report in Pravda of ary Communists. recognize that their Menshevik policies dur­ be called a raisin, as an economical father June 28, 1930, B lu ch e r declared: once did when a baked cockroach was dis­ They are facts which by themselves are ing 1925-27 led to the' victory of counter­ covered in his bread. Nevertheless, some “We, the fighters in the Red Army, can sufficient answer to the pitiful declarations revolution, tfie recession of the revolution­ people—“economists” if not “economical”— proudly report to you that during these in the camp of the Right wing and the Cefi- ary wave, and the virtual decapitation of battles we did not have a single defection, trists about our “disintegration”, repeated the Communist movement believed and taught others, beginning with not a single deserter to the enemy. The solely for the purpose of retaining domina. Because they consider the defeat of the 1924, th a t the K u la k is a m yth altogether, that socialism can very well be reconciled army showed a high political and class Mon over militants whom the barrage of Chinese revolution as a passing or already devotion to socialist construction.” anti-“Trotskyism” alone has prevented from passed “episode”, the policy of putschism with that “powerful middle peasant”—in a word, for four years they ardently convert­ Every revolutionist can only welcome endorsing our views. is systematically advocated or condoned by ed the cockroach into the raisin of national this information. Unfortunately, however, In this sense, the Communist League of them. They fail to see the need, particularly socialism. This too should have been we have a second version of this point America (Opposition) welcomes tihe state­ now in a period of depression of the work­ avoided. In Blucher’s speech which undermines all ment of comrade Weisbord. At the same ers, of re-awakening them, re-grouping our confidence in the whole report. In the tiime, it is imperative to indicate some ex­ them by means of democratic slogans, cen­ journal, Rabotelil, which Is the daily organ tremely serious defects in it, also typical tering around the demand for a Constituent A Self-Portrait of Yaroslavsky of the Central Committee of the White Rusis- of a certain confusion that exists in the Assembly. At the same time this cheap The irreplaeable colleague, Yaroslav­ ian Communist Party, the quotation from ranks of many militants who are drawing “Leftism” is supplemented by the outright sky, in the interests of self-criticism, read Blucher’s speech is reported as follows: closer to our point of view. It is not a Menshevik perspective of the “democratic at the Congress a description of a Commun­ “We can proudly report to you that) we question here of a number of relatively dictatorship of the proletariat and peasant­ ist given by a certain organization in a had no defections nor a single deserter to minor differences of opinion, which are ry”, i.e., a new Kuo Min Tang scandal, a forsaken locality: "Consistent, politically the camp of the enemy. We have only two quite admissable within the ranks of the new Kerenskyism. literate, has no firm convictions of his dark, shameful stains: two qualified rec­ Opposition itself. Nor do we raise the ques­ It is these questions of strategical and own. Awaits what other will say.” The ruits who were to serve for a period of nine tion of criticisms made by comrade Weisbord, tactical significance that must be decided report records “laughter”. But if one stops months went over to the enemy. Both of which, in any case, can be discussed and in the Chinese revolution. Only by estab­ to think, it is not at all a laughing matter. them turned out to be Trotskyists.” solved on tihe basis o f com radely argum ent lishing a sound foundation on them can It is only too true. And maybe this is and internal democracy. More fundamental The woyds we underlined are com­ the present guerilla warfare be estimated precisely why it is so Iudricious. The pro­ questions are involved. pletely absen,t from the Prwvda report. correctly, in its proper place, and not in vince has hit the mark, describing not a The Need for Clarity Were they spoken by Blucher or not? If the ambiguous manner into which comrade man but a type. we are to judge by the text we would have The Communist League is the Left wing Weisbord falls. to conclude that these words were arbitrar­ of the Communist movement, a faction fight­ An Ambiguous Position on India Yes, even if we take this same Yaro­ ily and incongruously inserted into the ing for the reconstitution of the Communist The same ambiguitv exists in Weis­ slavsky. In 1923, he wrote panegyrics to report after it was made, as a result of International on the unshakable foundations bord’s words on India. Side by side with Trotsky. In 1925, he wrote agreeing with which we have an Obvious, absurdity. At of Marx and Lenin which have been sys­ perfectly correct formulations are to be Zinoviev’s “Leninism”, which was directly first it says that there was not) “a single tematically undermined by Stalinism. As a found perfectly confused ones, particularly e n tire ly against S talin. In 1927, he w rote deserter" and then it is reported that there faction, its base is necessarily narrower than on the relations of the proletarian move­ that Bucharin has no deviations whatever were two of them. Obviously, there is some­ that of the official Party and its require­ ment with the national bourgeoisie. The and that he is educating the youth in the thing foul here: If there is not a single ments more stringent. Without wasting ar­ primary problem of the Indian revolution spirit of Leninism. one, then where did the two come from? guments on the philistine contentions of the is not one of an alliance with the national But can it be said that Yaroslavsky is And if there really were two deserters then Right wing concerning our alleged “sectar­ bourgeoisie, but of how to shatter every inconsistent? Nobody will say that. He how can one say “not a single one” ? But) ianism” (i. e., our insistence upon revolu­ bit of. faith of the masses in that leader­ is quite consistent, even too consistent. let us assume that it was not Blucher tionary principle), we must establish at all ship, how to make them rely upon them­ Politically illiterate? No, of course not. himself who made the ends meet: In the costs a thorough clarity in all fundamental selves exclusively, to drive the national At worst—he is semi-literate. Has he his speech unfortunately, there is; generally problems of the movement, since without bourgeoisie (Ghandism in all shades) re­ own firm convictions? It appears that he more ardor tihan sense. But then why did that it is impossible to point the correct lentlessly out of the movement. The na­ has not. But why should convictions be the Pravda report omit such tempting in­ road for the movement and help the revolu­ tive bourgeoisie is the principal brake on firm? They are not metallic. But how is formation about two deserters? Why did tionary workers in and around the Commun­ the popular masses; it is the last and most it that Yaroslavsky, without firm convic­ Pravdla conceal the countier-revolutionary ist Party tread this road by unloading tiheir substantial prop of British imperialism in tions, maintains himself at the top? Very betrayals of the “Trotskyists” ? If Pravda artificially appointed “leaders” and their India. simple. He “awaits what others will say”. did not conceal anything, if Blucher did baggage of pernicious theories. That is why, The economic and political needs of No, the Congress laughed for nothing. not even say this, then how is it that these particularly in the case of Weisbord, a com­ ( Continued on Page 8 ) The description fits perfectly. Problems of the Revolutionary Movement out responsible mass work in a Communist manner before becoming leaders, their vio­ lence against Communist groups, these are some of the things that show on what road A Statement of Views on Some Disputed Questions this clique marches. (This is the final installment of the By ALBERT WEISBORD any plan of industrialization was “too pre­ The Communist “Majority” group speech made before the Lovestone group mature” and would lead to terrible catas­ (Lovestone) shows just as bad tendencies. plenum by comrade Weisbord in which he center of attack must be against British trophes and “war in the village”, when The failure to analyze international ques­ present his views. The reply of the Com­ Imperialism and its conscious reactionary there is recalled how backward the original tions (China, Russia, etc.) and to link up munist League Is appended.) agents within India. industrialization plans were and how far these questions in the closest degree with * • • The crime of the C.I. in China (and the masses outstripped the “Party leaders”, 'questions of the I'nit eel States; the “Right” this opinion is not in contradiction with the line when these questions are approached, 18. India. The basic slbgans for the then the conclusion is ripe that the attack basic opinions of comrade Trotsky, it the wrong estimation both of the whole Communists today in India must be Lenin’s on comrade Trotsky on this question only seems) was NOT that the C.P. of China present period of post-war capitalism and of “Three Pillars”, that is, a basic slogan for hid the Right opportunism of the Stalin- joined a national revolutionary front, but the present situation inside and outside the the proletariat (say the eight hour day) Bucharin regime. that the C.I. SUBSTITUTED the Kuomin- United States and the complete failure to a basic slogan for the peasantry (confisca­ The Five-Year Plan tang for the Communist Party, succumbed understand the many Right wing mistakes tion of the land) and the slogan of Dem­ The five year plan, belated as it was, to Sun Yat Senism, introduced class collab­ (including the methods of dealing with the ocratic Republic. To these “three pillars” and its speedy execution, mark a tremen­ oration against the class struggle, sacrific­ Trotsky opposition) that were committed the slogan “Freedom for India” must be dous step forward. The industrialization ing the class struggle to this national rev­ by the leaders of this group as leaders of added. Only around all these slogans can of the Soviet State must tend greatly to olutionary front) against foreign imperial­ the Party. These are but part of the evi­ the masses be effectively mobilized. It strengthen the revolutionary movement and ism, failing to raise the “Three Pillar” dence to show how firmly rooted the Right would be a gross error for the Communists tend to hasten the end of capitalism. But slogans and thus leading the civil war in tendencies of this group have become. to stress the slogan of Freedom for India the economic progress of the U.S.B.R. does village and town on concrete demands of The Communist League (Opposition) alone as does the nationalist Indian bour­ not BY ITSELF NECESSARILY lead to an the masses against the native exploiters also has shown definite “Right” tendencies. geoisie. The slogan for “Constituent As­ advance of the world revolution. If with as well. The policy today must! be: a na­ But the Right tendences have NOT flowed sembly” by itself is not incorrect but is such an economic advance there should be tional revolutionary front which later w ill from comrade Trotsky and the International incomplete and may be dangerous for it fastened upon the Communist Parties be broken by the progress of the class strug­ Left Opposition—now that the true position does not take into consideration the fact still more the theory of building socialism gle in India under the leadership of the of the “Trotsky” opposition ils known— that British Imperialism can maneuver so in one country, if this should lead not to proletariat (through its Communist Party) but are peculiar to its American seetton. as to make the slogan of Constituent As­ an international but a nationalist view-4 in alliance with the peasantry on the road The May 1929 factional platform, the pas­ sembly a SUBSTITUTE for a democratic point, if this should in turn lead the C.I. to the struggle for the dictatorship of the sivity and sectarian leanings, the absolute republic. The slogan Constituent Assembly leadership to playing with and a sacrifice proletariat. and complete lack of self-criticism and fail­ can be need correctly only in conjunction of foreign sections of the C.I., if this should ure to see-that the Cannon faction within the with the slogan for a Democratic Republic. The Problem in China fasten the hold of the bureaucrats still more, Party was as un-Leninist as any of the 14. Here too the slogan of the Con­ if this should lead to Trotsky deportations The Slogan of Soviets others, these defects flowed from the fact stituent Assembly is still correct, although and Ellumkin murders and violence to every The slogan of Soviets can be appropri­ that the American section of tihe Left In­ it is apparently incorrect to state that the Communist opposition movement, then in­ ate only when a sufficiently acute revolu­ ternational Opposition was too close to but Chinese revolution is still on the wane. deed it is possible to state that unless the tionary situation has been engendered a reconstituted Cannon faction in the be­ Here the mobilization of workers and pea­ Communists throughout the world (aided around the “three pillars”, when the class ginning of its formation. However there sants on concrete issues can lead to such by the very economic advance of the Soviet struggle and civil war rages in the villages must be admitted the great service such a an acute revolutionary situation that So­ Union) can guard against this degeneration and towns. In this connection it must be faction did render in the publication and viets can be formed. from Leninism it is possible to have an emphasized that Soviets can be built even popularization of the principles of the Left economic advance of the Soviet Union si­ with the slogan of Constituent Assembly. It is dubious to say, as do some mem­ International Opposition. multaneously with a setback to the world The two slogans of Constituent Assembly bers of the International Left Opposition, The crying need of tihe hour today is proletarian revolution. Trotsky’s exposure and Soviets need not be antagonistic at that the present guerilla warfare going on absolute ideological intransigeance, plus the of the elements .of Thermidor generating all times. But what must be stressed is in China today is wrong and not to be working together of all Communi t groups. within the Soviet Union is absolutely cor­ the actual organization of civil war in the supported. Under the present conditions, One of the crassest forms of opportunism rect. village and town and the leadership of the if the facts are that masses of desperate was the factional unity attempted in the ’(section D. 18..The Comintern today is proletariat in this civil war. Only the dic­ peasants are ready to take up civil war in Party in 1928 ( and before) and which was tatorship of the proletariat in India can the countryside, the Communists must in a profound crisis. The narrowing down only the obverse side of the unprincipled make permanent its revolution. stimulate, support, organize and lead such and great loss of prestige of the C.I. and factionalism that had existed before merely The Communists must make plain to a movement. On the other hand, it must the mass expulsions show how deeply op­ in another form. The correct solution of the masses the role of the nationalistic be clear that no matter how much the Im­ portunism was part) of the Communist move­ the momentous questions of the day on the Indian bourgeoisie and the role of Ghandi perialists and native Chinese rulers may ment. The formation of three different sep­ basis of Leninism stand above all questions as an agent of this class. Not only the be weakened, armed peasant bands cannot arately organized international Communist of formal discipline. groups speaks of the disintegration of tihe experiences o f 1921 m ust be gone o v e r,'b u t take the place of mass peasant uprisings, At the same time all Communist groups all the treacherous actions of the present the peasant movement can not take the movement. But it also marks a step for­ must work • together on the basis of the Ghandi campaign (the salt) campaign, the place of a proletarian struggle, and pea­ ward since such a situation exposes the recognition of the Communist character of anti-machine movement, passive resistance, sant “ Soviets” cannot replace the dictator­ rottenness in all groups, hardens t(he real each group. The Communist “Majority” op­ opposition tio workers, record at the Na­ ship of the proletariat. Leninists and prepares the way for new position group and the Communist League tionalist Congress, etc., etc., et.) must be 15. The colonial revolutionary situa­ advances. group by working together can help to re­ elaborated. Simultaneously mass move­ tions in China and India are of the greatest We owe it primarily and above all to establish mass work and to resist the vio­ ments in town and countryside against na­ importance to the rest of t)he world, and to L.D.Trotsky for exposing the situation lent tiactics of the Party officialdom. They tive usurer, gentry, kulak, bourgeois, must the United States especially. How can we since Lenin died, for bringing to light the can help to separate the Communist move­ be effected. By no means must the Chiang foresee that the United States w ill “weather Testament of Lenin which the other leaders ment as a whole from the Mensheviks and Kai-Shek disaster be repeated. The crim­ tihe economic sto rm ” and “ reach new peaks” had deliberately hidden, for exposing the can deal a death blow to the theory of inal negligence of the C.I. in failing to unless we foresee aleady the complete and forgeries of Lenin’s writings attempted, "fascism” and “social-fascism” thus win­ build the Communist Party but in building sudden crushing of the revolutionary wave and for bringing to light many facts of ning the advanced workers to a Leninist worker-peasant parties instead must be in the Far East. It is the rankest oppor­ Party history concealed by the bureaucrats conception of party democracy. Only such speedily liquidated. It is clear it is not tunism to fail tio connect in the most inti­ fom the membership. a working together of Communist groups OUE business to organize peasant parties. mate way the revolutionary situations in However it, seems that comrade Trot­ can raise those fundamental principles of It is clear that the main task of the the East with the immediate perspective of sky is incorrect in designating the struggle Leninist organization that can reconstitute Communists must be the stimulation of the the United States. All of the Communist between Bucharin and Stalin (and the na­ an International of Lenin. masses around the “three pillar” and free­ groups suffer from this opportunism more tional groups around them) as one between (SEE PAGE FIVE) dom slogans. These movements are di­ or less. Unless this view is corrected it “Right” and “Centrist” tendencies in the rected against both native and foreign rul­ will be true that the revolutions will be Communist movement. It is in reality a ers aifd bourgeoisie who may desire a na­ defeated, but it w ill be the Communists who struggle between two forms of the “Right”. tionalist refolutionary movement under the w ill have aided unconsciously the hangmen Both philosophically and politically the sole slogan of "Freedom of India” from the both in the East and in the West. 'conception of a “Centrist” COMMUNIST British. Nevertheless, and this is most 16. The slogan Soviet United States of w in g is w rong. C entrism can be used as important to understand, so long as a sec­ Europe today seems dubious. Lenin was designating Socialists but not Communists. tion of the nationalist) Indian bourgeoisie opposed to this slogan. Today, it may tend This was Lenin’s usage of tihe term. Prac­ Number 1 4 is fighting British Imperialism under the to aid reactionary schemes like those of tically, it gives the illusion that the “Cen­ BULLETIN OF THE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION slogan of Freedom of India from Imperial­ Briand. It should be remembered thatl trists” are more to the “Left” than the ist rule, so long as this movement unleashes among the capitalist nations the sharpest “Riighit” and that “Centrists” are more (Entirely In Russian) the energy of the masses which otherwise basic antagonisms are no longer between easily swayed and have no real policy of Partial Contents could not) be unleashed and so long as the European nations buti between Europe and th e ir own. Who W ill Pevail?—N.M.: "News” in the masses have not been actively mobilized A m erica. 19. In tihe United States, the disinteg­ Partyj—The Political Biography of Stalin. around the correct slogans and while the 17. The situation within the Soviet ration of the Communist Party has ex­ —ALFA:Notes of a Journalist—A.T.: Col­ exposure of the native bourgeoisie is but in Union, our fatherland, must be of the ut­ posed three groups with definite Right wing lectivization as It Really Is (Letter from its incipiency, it would be manifestly in­ most concern for us. The difficultly and del­ tendencies. The putschism of the official the Russian countryside).—N.MARKIN: The correct for the Communists not to enter icacy of the subject must not lead to less Communist Party factionalists is not the Persecution of the Bolshevik-Leninistis as or to struggle for a national revolutionary discussion but to more. There is no ques­ wrong estimation of those too impatient the Principal Element in Preparing the front against British Imperialism even tion but that, on the whole, here comrade and too eager to struggle, but a deliberate 16th Party Congres.—LETTERS FROM though this national revolutionary front Trotsky was correct both in stressing in­ make-believe to conceal their utter Right THEU.S.S.R.r Letter from Moscow; A let­ would temporarily contain sections of the dustrialization and the necessity of a wing bankruptcy. The theory of building ter from exile; On Rakovgky; etc., etc.— nationalist revolutionary bourgeoisie (whom “plan”, and in proposing an intesificatiqn socialism in one country, their attitude on L.D.Trotsky: Stalin as a Theortician—L.D. the masses follow) even though the sole of the war on the kulak. When there is’ colonial questions, their deliberate isola­ Trotisky: On the “Defenders” of the October slogan were “Freedom for India”1 from recalled Bucharin’s slogan to the peasant­ tion from the masses, tljeir conception that Revolution—And numerous other features. British Imperialism and even though later ry “Enrich yourselves” and how there was leaders of a Communist Party can be liars 25cents a copy 18 cents in bundles the united front would have to be broken solemnly discussed in Russia the possib­ and fakers trying to bluff both Moscow and by the development of the class struggle ility of the “kulaks growing into socialism” , the membership, and can reach leadership O rder from in the villages and towns of India. The when there is recalled the arguments that without ever having been called to carry G. Clarke, 25 Third Ave., Rm. 4, N.Y.C. A Letter from Shanghai What Is Going On In China? letariat must by all means acquire the lead­ policy w ill become more reactionary than Bai and Mif, after their arrival in China, SHANGHAI— ing position. But the leadership can easily Chiang Kai-Shek’s. The Centrists of the formally crticized the former policy of ag­ The year 1982-29 m ay he described as be captured by “populist” parses, which Kuo Min Tang like the socalled board of reement between Lee Li-san and the reor- a period of a certain economic revival of seek to make the peasants independent “New Life”* w ill surely stand in opposition ganizationists. Nevertheless such a “ Left” the Chinese bourgeoisie. Three conditions from the workers. The Stalinists are help­ to this bourgeois government under the attempt does not correct the fundamental aided the bourgeoise to restore its econ­ ing the [development of such “populist” mask of a “Left” turn. Or some of them principle error of the Party line, since with omy: a prosperous gain in agricultural har­ parties. First, they attempt to organize will split from tjie ranks of the “re- a course based on the “bourgeois charac­ vest in the second half of 1927 and Hhe purely peasant Soviets under the slogan of organizationists” to oppose the policy of ter” of the revolution, “temporary” agree­ fir s t h a lf o f 1928;. the ebb tid e of the s trike the “democratic dictatorship of the prolet­ Wang Chin Wei and Co. This is the first ments with the liberal bourgeoisie are a movement as a result of the proletariat’s ariat and peasantry”. Secondly, they do possible alternative. natural conclusion. defeat; tihe temporary cessation of the ci­ not tell the peasants that the revolutionary The other one would be more danger­ At present, the Party regime is still vil war and the restoration of inland com­ situation has weakened, but play up to the ous to the proletariat. The Left bourgeoisie under the influence of the Lee Li-sans. munication . The Chinese bourgeoisie, tak­ narrow-minded and prideful thoughts of the with its existing organizations and under That the powerful Lee agrees to publish ing advantage of this good situation, re­ peasantry that the workers in China are the mask of an “ultra-Left” turn w ill con- the criticism of Chi Chiu-Bai and Mif in stored its economic power. Up to 1930, tihe much more backward than the peasants. the official Party organ is only a false bourgeoisie had wholly recovered in the ...... Third, they do not develop the independent demonstration to the Comintern. But it factories destroyed by the war. The gen­ This letter represent the point of view spirit of the proletarian struggle, but spread does show thati the ultra-Right spirit of eral profit of the principal industry—textile of the “Opr Word” group of the Left Op­ exaggerated news about the Red Army in Lee Li-san has prevailed strongly in the —had surpassed the record after the war, position in China. The Militant disagrees their organ with the largest type as if its whole Party. For instance, the serious while the import and export of merchant seriously with a number of statements and victory were the road out for the workers. struggle between Tchu-Deh and Mu Tse- ships had increased by 20 percent higher opinions expressed by comrade Peter in In a, word, all the propaganda of the Stalin­ tong in the Red Army. Comrade Mu Tse- than before, and domestic and foreign trade estimating the present situation in the ists obectively incites the “populist” ideas Tong is more to the Lefti and may stand had increased proportionately. Elut the rise country, with particular regard to the of the peasant’s independence from the came to an end with the civil war and ag­ on the side of the Party masses against guerilla warfare, on which we have already workers. From our point of view, the Sta­ Tchu-Deh. But the Central Party regime ra ria n fam ine a t the beginning o f 1930. written and will continue to write in fu­ linists in China are undergoing a process of the ultra-Right wing has decided Ho In 1929, the w a r between Chiang K a i- ture issues. Nevertheless, the first-hand of “Social Revolutionarization”. replace comrade Mu Tse-Tong with the Shek and the Kwangsi clique broke out. account of the situation in China which follower of Lee Li-san, Yun Tai-in. In 1930i, the Chiang-Yen Slh-Shan war this letter offers makes it publication in To want to eliminate such peasant So­ broke out. In the consideration of the lat­ the Militant of great interest and value. The history of the Russian revolution viets and their struggle in no way coin­ ter, there are two different opinions: the teaches us that in tihe ranks of Menshevism cides with the standpoint of the Opposition. one of Lee Li-san, the present leader of there were many differences, especially on Despite the fact that they are not workers’ sent to the bourgeois democratic revolu­ the Chinese Communist Party, the other is the question of relations with the constitu­ and peasants’ Soviets under the leadership tion and to the “democratic dictatorship of that of the Leninist Opposition. tionalists. The Mensheviks were divided of the proletariat. they are far better for the workers and peasants”, to the slogan According Oo Lee Li-san, this is a war into cooperators and opponents. But on us than the power of the landlords. In the “Unite with the Soviet Union” only under of the classes, that is, the revolutionary the fundamental problems of the revolu­ future revolutionary rising wave, such -pea­ the condition that the property of the Chin­ high wave, because, according to his “anal­ tion they unanimously opposed the Bol­ sants’ Soviets will be very easily turned ese bourgeoisie is not confiscated. Then, ysis”, the participants in the civil war rep­ sheviks. So does Chinese Menshevism. The into a workers’ and peasants’ Soviet pow­ under this maisk, the “ultra-Left” bour­ resent different classes: Feng Yu-Hsiang reorganizationists are clearly no other than er, preparing for the proletarian dictator­ geoise will again be able to betray the represents tihe petty bourgeoise; Kwangsi, the Chinese Constftutlionalists, the most ship. It is without doubt that during the proletariat and get material support from the landlords; and Chiang the national dangerous enemy of the proletariat. There­ reactionary period, the organization d£ the Soviet* Union. bourgeoisie. fore on the question of relations with the workers’ and peasants’ Soviets is imposs­ "Can it be considered that the revolu­ The National Action Committee of the Chinese Constitutionalists, whatever differ­ ible; but the existence of isolated peasant tio n o f 1925-1927 has a t least p a rtly sat­ Chinese Bolshevik-Leninists (Opposition) ences exist among the Chinese Mensheviks war groups in so widespread a country as isfied the basic interests of Chinese capital­ has already declared that such wars are un­ like Chi Chiu-Bai and Lee Li-san the Bol­ China is quite possible. It is the remain­ ism?” said comrade Trotsky in his criti­ avoidable results after the fall of the prolet­ shevik Opposition can never come to agree­ in g sp u rt o f the villa g e re vo lu tio n o f 1925-27. cism of the Comintern program. “No. arian forces. The imperialists in China and ment with them. They are for the road The duties of tihe present leadership are China is now just as far from national their agents, the Chinese bourgeoisie are of the “bourgeois character” of tihe revolu­ to agitate for the more extensive develop­ unity and from customs independence as it intoxicated with the desire to split up China tion and the “democratic dictatorship”, ment of the city labor movement, to lead was prior to 1925. But as a matter of fact still further because the local governments while we are for the proletarian dictator­ it and to prolong itis existence before it is the creation of one home market and its established by these splits are the only ship and nationalization of the means of completely exhausted and destroyed by re­ protection from cheaper foreign goods is safe guarantee for the exceptional power production. actionaries. for the Chinese bourgeoisie a question of and interests of the imperialists and the life and death. It is a question only second The Chinese Bolshevik-Leninists (Op­ government of Chiang Kai-Shek is the in importance to that of maintaining the The Red Army position) recognizes that the significance “provisional government” supported unani­ basis of its class domination over the pro­ of the peasant war groups is quite different mously by the imperialists and the local The Red Army in China is an ever letariat! and the rural poor. But also for from that of the workers’ and peasants’ bourgeoisie as well in order to suppress disputed question. In the ranks of dis­ the Japanese and for the British bourge­ Soviets. Elut our sympathy is wholly on the revolutionary forces after the exhaustion guised Oppositionists in China, the attitude oisie, the maintenance of China in its co­ the side of such peasant wars. We insis­ of the proletariat and the forces under its towards the Red army has been falsified lonial state is a question of no less impor­ tently protest against the shameless stories leadership; but the full attention of the by saying' that it is simply “an unorganized tance than the question of economic in­ about them spread by the landlords and im p e ria lists and tihe w hole local bourgeoi­ disturbance of bandits, vagabonds and vil­ dependence is for the Chinese bourgeoisie. the bourgeoisie. We speak to the working sie is concentrated on the splitting up pro­ lains” (Tchen Du-Siu and Liurze groups). That is why the Chinese bourgeoisie will classes that these Soviets are peasant war cess: the civil war is only a means for the The Stalinists are of the opinion that the still display many zig-zag moves towards groups, much more advanced than those purpose of spliti. Soviets of tihe occupied provinces are the the Left In its future policy. For those proletarian power, and the Red Army the of landlords and that the workers should Since the “provisional government” who like united fronts there will still be 100 percent military force of the latter. unite with them. Bet we do not betray the (Nanking) has succeeded in its role and many chances in the future.” workers like the Stalinists do by saying task of suppressing the revolutionary forces, As a matter of fact, the present Chinese The present task of the Chinese Op­ that these are the very Soviets of the then its power must be weakened by civil Soviets are not established on the basis position is to avoid the two dangers men­ future proletarian dictatorship, wars to the level of the former Peking of the class struggle between landlords tioned above by all means. So that the government, while tihe local powers must and peasantry, not to speak of the leader­ The capture of Changsha, capital of also be reduced to the “Tuchun” period most important work to be carried out is ship of the proletariat. The present Soviets Hunan province, by the Red Army has given the slogan of a' national (Constituent!) As­ before 1925. A ll these are n a tu ra l phenom ­ are only the jobless grouped in the village a great impetus to the demonstration on sembly through which we may sharply dis­ ena under the regime of different imper­ in order to obtain a living. Their attitude Augusti 1st in Shanghai. We distributed close all the deceivers of the “opposition” ialists. The temporary (and only tempor­ towards the peasants at work takes the our leaflets with an “Appeal to the Work­ bourgeoisie. On the other hand, with the ary) restraining of the militarists from form of a conqueror, so that the Soviets ers, Peasants and Soldiers of the Red Army aid of this slogan, we must try our best civil wars is possible only qnder the most are not considered by the peasant as his for the capture of Changsha”. There we to carry on a propaganda for the dictator­ reactionary regime which suppressess the own organization. The Soviets can make declared that the capture of Changsha by ship of the proletariat and nationalization workers and peasants completely. But this agreements with the upper classes in the the heroic militants in the peasant war de­ of the means of production, establishing is a temporary restraint which only means village because of their separation from serves the praise of the world proletariat. firmly tihe real program of the proletariat the preparation of new and more violent the sympathetic support of the peasant mass­ The heroic Red Army should not only make which will be contrary to the objeufe wars. The complete elimination of civil es. In most of the Soviet districts, the further attacks on the bourgeois militarists “bourgeois democratic” platform of the wars among the militarists is conceivable leadership does not accomplish the division but should also carry outi the confiscation Stalinists. only through the seizure of power by the of the land, confiscation of the merchant of property, Chinejse and fore^n, divide proletariat In the coming, third revolution­ shops, but, on the contrary, carries out the land of the Kulak and landlords among ary uprising. In the Party the slogan of “Protect the merchant shops the poor peasants In spite of the Stalinist Under the condition of permanent civil In recent months, the official Commun­ and money-lenders”. The leaders, further, opportunist line etc., etc. We hope to send war the masses are impelled to recognize ist Party, with the opportunist program more, do not disarm the bandits in order you a report on the Changsha situation, the real political countenance of the Com­ adopted by its sixth congress under the to arm the poor peasantry, but permits the present strike movement, etc., witihin munist Party and to turn towards the Left. leadership of the Ultra-Right winger Lee them to rob freely. the next few days. It is inevitable that during this period Li-san, came to an agreement with the re- But although the Soviets under the —PETER the bourgeois groups in opposition to the organizationists, compromising the struggle leadership of the Stalinists are not the one in power, w ill hide themselves more between the poor peasantry and the Kulak. power of the workers and peasantry, they cunningly behind the “Left” mask in order But under the “Loft” turn of Stalin, this are peasant war groups, depending upon If the number on your wrapper is to betray the masses. Here one may as­ ultra-Right policy was wiped out by diplo­ the activities of their leaders, like the sume two alternatives for the near future: matic decree of the Comintern. Chi Chiu- group under Hong Siu-Chuan, the Taipings The “reorganizationsts” and the “West H ill leader. Such groups are able to exist even 55 Conference group” w ill put aside their own * Theoretical organ of the Kuo Min in the period of the greatest consolidation then your subscription to the Militant has reformist platforms in order to unite with Tang Centrists, whose task is to explain of the reactionary regime; militarist civil Yen Sih-Shan, Feng Yu-Hsiang, Kwangsi war their theories by a "materialism” and war makes their further growth possible. expired. Renew immediately in order to lords, and organize a government whose “Marxism” of their own. In these peasant war groups, the pro­ avoid missing any issues. In the Party been reduced to a fourth of the member­ ship. The mechanical introduction of pol­ icies, their mechanical execution, abolition Stalinist Party Folly in St. Louis tackling the problem of unemployment turn­ W h y I Joined the and re-introduction (as in the Amalga­ ST. LO U IS — mated Clothing Workers) are ruinous. Since the expulsion of the Opposition, ed their meeting into anti-Trotsky meet­ Left Opposition Elections in the Party are becoming a the C.P. has pra uically ceased to exist in ings, which of course meant nothing to the word of the past. Secretaries and financial this territory. With the loss of its best rank and file unemployed. The workers, Comade Sylvia Blebker, organizer of secretaries can no longer be elected, only members it no longer has any contact with disgusted with such tactics, left and are Of the Needle Trades Workers Industrial appointed by the bureau! the trade unions. Jealous of Opposition now in our ranks. Union, and one of the oldest members of Can or should a real Communist over­ influence in the trade unions the Party After two months of strenous effort the of the Party, whose case we spoke of in look all this? Is it not time to make an finally succeeded by underhanded methods Party, succeeded with the co-operation of the Militant, two Issues agoi, has been end to all these ruinous policies? Regard­ in getting our members expelled from them. the Opposition, in mustering about 200 dem­ expelled for “Trotskyism”. She sends us less of what the offical apparatus does— In consequence, all militant Left wing ele­ onstrators for the Sacco-Vanzetti protest the following declaration: expel, slander, temporarily isolate us, beat ments have been barred from participation meeting. The Stalinists, instead of expos­ * * * us up, break up meetings—it is our turn to in the unions, leaving the Held entirely in ing the system which burned Sacco and The statement by the Party Central speak . A Communist who keeps quiet now the hands of bureaucratiifc reactionaries!. Vanzetti, turned this meeting also into an Control Commission on my expulsion when danger is facing our Party is a cow­ Well known militants like MacMillan and anti-Trotsky affair. They also decided to (D a lly W o rker, 9-8-198#) need® fu rth e r ex­ ard and a slacked against the working Goldjberg have been expelleJd becaus of devote their talents to a strenuous attack planation. It was not merely a statement class. The differences in the Comintern these malicious and* senseless Party tactics. on the one poor wilted Lovestoneite in the of my expulsion but a slander and misrepre­ can no longer be concealed. The platform Opposition Organizes Unemployed city calling him among other things a so­ sentation of my relation to the struggle of the Leninist Opposition can no longer be The C om m unist O pposition wes; tihe cial menace and a Sacco-Vanzetti lyncher, in general. And while I am sure that misrepresented or misquoted. The facts first in this territory to organize an Un­ much to the amusement of the spectators. every worker or member of ou)r Union are out in the daylight. employed Council which led a mass demon­ In spite of Party persecution the Op­ wh,o read it felt repelled by such contem- Communism Weakened by Expulsions s tra tio n o f 1,500 on January 3rd th rough the position goes forward. 'With the exception tible slander, I nevertheless wish to make By expelling us from the Party’s ranks, business section of St. Louis. The Party of the officials, the rank and file members a few explanatory remarks. our strength is only weakened. By driv­ was invited to participate butl refused on have been neutralized. This has occured Records Needs No Apology ing us out of active work in the trade the grounds that they were not the organ­ in spite of the fact that members are ex­ pelled when caught talking to Opposition My record of work, activities and devo­ '.unions and auxiliary organizations, the izers. tion to the Needle Trades Workers Indus­ Party officials are deliberately hurting the Seeing our success and in order not tlo sympathizers or when found attending Op­ tria l Union and the Party needs no apology. cause of the workers. We want to be in be outdone, the Party finally organized its position meetings. It has been known to the workers for the Party. We want to be in the trade own oouncil The Opposition, knowing A case in point is the recent expulsion almost 10 years. Any work assigned to unions. We want to be in every class their council was in fact nothing but a of the secretary of the Y.C.L., Frank Wall, me was carried out faithfully and flawless­ struggle. We are ready and willing to sac­ name, nevertheless, sent delegates asking one of the most active of the League mem­ ly. And were it not for my agreement with rifice as we have proved in the past. Vi­ for a united front of all workers against bers when caught by Party spies attending the platform of the Communist League, the cious attacks and slander will not solve unemployment. This the Party not only Shachtman’s lecture. He was summarily Party would still speak of my loyalty. the problem. refused but threw our delegates outt Be­ “dismitesed”. It seems that it is no longer My adherence to the “Trotsky Oppo­ We ask for a broad and genuine dis­ cause of this action, the one or two mem­ necessary to endorse the Opposition plat­ sition in no way eradicates my former cussion of the problems we are now facing. bers whom the Party had succeeded in form for expulsion, but expulsions are now record. On the contrary, it is a logical We demand that a halt be called to the gaining, left and came over to our group. in order for members daring to associate consequence of my serious and vital concern unheard of repression and persecution of Remembering our success in demon­ with “Trotskyists”. with the policies of the C.I. and its Ameri­ the Opposition comrades in the Soviet strating, the local Stalinists decided to ar­ While the Party goes onward in its Union. The bureaucrats cannot and will can section. range a series of demonstrations of tiheir path of complete isolation, the Opposition not tear us away from the ranks of Com­ Since when is one a good Communist own. These turned out complete fizzles, grows in membership and influence among munism and the working class! who doesn’t think, question or disagree? each being a bigger failure than its pre­ rank and file workers. The Left wing Since when has it become bur slogan: Obey —SYLVIA BLEEKER decessor. The Party speakers, instead of militants continue in their task of carrying and not ask questions? The Communist forward true Communist education, co-op­ Party is not a religious sect (and even erating with all workers, and aiding the their history is filled with “periods of ques­ sale of the Militant. The Militant now has tioning”). The Party is the political weapon A Reply to Comrade Weisbord a larger subscription list in this city than of the workers in the (fight against the cap­ ( Continued fo rm Page 5 ) masses (Chinese revolution, British gener­ the Dally Worker. The sale of Klorkeit italist system, and it is tihe duty of every the native bourgeoisie leads them into a al strike, India, etc., etc.) into opportunist also is not smaller than the sale of the Communist to use this weapon to its max­ dispute with the British imperialists which swamps from which Centirsm is now trying Jewish Morning Freiheiti. Consequently imum effectiveness. We need the Commun­ “unleashes the eneregy of the masses”. But ineffectively, to issue by means of the Ultra- with the coming of the fall cool weather ist Partly to lead the working class in all we expect to make even bigger strides and so did Kerensky “unleash the energy of Leftist rope? its struggles ; we need it to fight and expose still more successes. the masses”. And like him, the Ghandists Road to Ruin, Not to Victory reformist influence among the workers; we —H.L. GOLDBERG at the same time fetter the energy of the need it to build the kernel of the proletar­ Such a policy, combined as it is with masses. A genuine unleashing—and proper ian revolution. No sooner do the policies comrade Weisbord’s entirely false estimate direction—of the energies of the masses of the Party fail to live up to its historical of Centrism (his denial of it, in fact) is the hope and desire that further reflection can happen only by fighting as mercilessly role than every Communist must point it the shortest road to destruction for the and discussion would make it possible for against the national bourgeoisie and for the out, criticize and if compelled, organize a Left Opposition and a disavowal of its his­ comrade Weisbord to find his place as a independence of the proletariat (which taction to correct these policies. torical function This is clear from all fighter—and a valuable one—in the ranks alone enables it to lead behin/1 it Ithe Tha't is exactly what comrade Trotsky the experiences of the Opposition In Europe. of the Opposition. We have welcomed peasantry) as the Bolsheviks fought against has been doing, and that is exactly what Our road is not that of Urbahns, Pollack this discussion and the criticisms made by the Kerensky and Menshevik compomisers the American Left Opposition is doing at and Paz who only discredited the Opposi­ comrade Weisbord, particularly because it in 1917. This must be repeated and re­ present. The criticism made by comrade tion and reduced what they controlled to offered the opportunity for a recapitulation peated until it penetrates every fiber of the Trotsky from 1923 to now, whether nation­ hopeless sects. of our point of view. At the same time, Indian revolutionists. ally or internationally, has been entirely * * * the national committee decided, in view of It is with comrade Weisbord’s propos­ confirmed by events, much more than any On the basis of his present views on a Weisbord’s closeness to the views of the als on the various groups in the movement of us expected. And it is because of the number of vital questions, the national Opposition, to invite his collaboration In that the Left Opposition has its sharpest very correctness of his prognoses that he committee has decided that it cannot accept fields of work conforming to his position. disagreement. Advocacy of such views by doesn’t stand alone but has a movement of comrade Weisbord for membership in the National Committee a leading comrades is contrary to all we devoted class-conscious workers behind League. At the same time it expressed Communist League of America (Opposition) him. Every day brings new groups of stand for. “All Communists groups must adherents to the course of Leninism as work together on the basis of the recogni­ against the policies 0f Stalin’s regime, tion of the Communist character of each which is leading the Party into the abyss. group. The Communist ‘Majority’ group and the Communist League group by work­ A Contemptble Slander ing together can help re-establish mass The C.C.C. statem ent th a t I “ covered SINCE LENIN DIED by Max Eastman, of Leninism under tihe crafty leadership of work . . . they can help to separate the myself with the cloak of Trotskyism to es­ Labour Publishing Company, London, the "Triumvirate”. The book is valuable Communist movement as a whole from the cape from the struggle” is a despicable 1.925, 15S pages. to us now because in it are published the Mensheviks”, etc., etc. This is false from original documents, theses, letters and press slander. No serious worker believes it now The fact that this book earned the con­ beginning to end. articles of the period. These documents and w ill surely not believe it in the future. centrated scorn of the latter-day Comintern We recognize the Communist character have already been supplemented, amplified I remain in the ranks of the class conscious leadership, should immediately interest all of the Right wing only insofar as it still and a thousand times verified in tihe w rit­ workers and w ill work together with them Communists suffering under the deluge of ings of comrade Trotsky and other leaders regardless of difficulties. But true to my groups a number of good Communist work­ “antl-Trotsjkyifct” verbiage distributed ife of the Russian Opposition. Also by the principles, I shall never agree with either ers whom the incompetent Centrist bureau­ recent years under the guise of Leninism. shamefaced confessions of Zinoviev, Kam­ the present official policies of 'the Party cracy was unable to hold. We contend Aspirants to leadership, in all English- enev, etc. when they were no longer of use that the Right wing now occupies a position speaking countries, from Rothstein to which are disastrous, nor with the bureau­ to Stalin. cratization of the Party. The average midway between social democracy (Men- Browder, finding the thorny path of fight Eastman w ill be remembered for unswerv­ member in our Party is becoming a mere shevism) and Communism—not for long, it against capitalism not so promising, have is true, as is shown by the passage of some turned with enthusiasm to slinging mud at ing courage and determination in the face cog and not a sober, conscious fighter. of (Jhe solid mass of howling bureaucrats, of its leading strata directly into the camp the Russian Opposition and its leader, com­ This is not a fault of the Communist ideal to speak the truth and prove it. He has of Amsterdam fend the international ot rade Trotsky. But the authority of these but of the present Party leadeship. the honor of being one of the first to be A u g u st 1914. H ow can we, the M a rx is t slanderers of the revolution is shortlived. The frequent changes and uncertainties expelled from the American Party for sup­ wing of the movement, unite with this This book is one of the nails in their po­ In the Party and trade union policies, with­ litical coffin. porting the Russian Opposition. He cer­ semi-Menshevik wing (a bloc which under out any broad discussion at tihe units, the Coming fresh from the Thirteenth Party tainly was the first to bring the documents present conditions would mean a movement Party fractions, introduce confusion, ap­ Congress of the Russian Party (May, 1924) and platform of the Russian Opposition out directed against the official Oommunist athy and general loss of faith by the rank and the hysterical campaign leading up to of the “illegality” imposed by Stalin and movement), in order to “seperate” the Com­ and file. Reorganizations take place at Trotsky’s resignation as president of the into the light of day. —CARL COWL munist movement as a whole from the such a tempo that it is no longer possible Revolutionary Military Soviet in January, Price: Cloth, $1; paper, 50 cents. Order Mensheviks”? How can a bloc with the to follow tihem up. These constant reorgan­ 1925, M ax Eastm an was the firs t to publish through the Militant. izations are resorted to as a substitute Right wing “re-establish mass work”, when the authentic documents of the controversy O for correct policies, but they are absolutely it is the whole philosophy of the Right in English. He was in Russia during the Subscribe to the Militant and be sure wrong and suicidical. The fact is that the wing that has brought the Communist whole development of the fight, witnessed of getting it regularly through the mails. attendance at Party fraction meetings has movement 'into such isolation from the the consolidation of the, shady opponents